Heavy rainfall lashed Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday morning, leading to severe waterlogging, heavy traffic congestion, and disruptions in flight and metro services. The downpour brought several key areas of the capital to a standstill, affecting commuters and air travellers alike.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued yellow and orange alerts for several parts of Delhi, warning of moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Meanwhile, Noida and Ghaziabad were placed under a red alert, with predictions of extremely heavy rainfall.
In Delhi, an orange alert was issued for the east, northeast, southeast and central districts, while other parts of the city remain under a yellow alert. Areas including Pragati Maidan, Defence Colony and Preet Vihar witnessed severe waterlogging and traffic snarls.
The Lucknow Met Centre confirmed that Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad are under a red alert, while Gurugram and Faridabad remain unaffected, with no warnings issued.
Waterlogging and Traffic Chaos in the Capital
The heavy downpour resulted in massive traffic congestion across several major roads. Stretches like the DND Flyway, Mathura Road, Vikas Marg, ISBT, Geeta Colony and Rajaram Kohli Marg saw long vehicle queues. Traffic between Badarpur and Ashram was severely affected, delaying office-goers and school buses.
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Traffic police were deployed at several key points to manage congestion and assist motorists in rain-affected zones.
Flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport faced heavy disruption. According to flight tracking portal Flightradar24, at least 209 departures and 43 arrivals were delayed till 2 pm.
Airline IndiGo also issued a travel advisory, urging passengers to plan ahead due to traffic disruptions.
“The skies over Delhi are bringing in some light showers today. While there is no major impact on roads yet, travel may be slower in a few areas. If you are on your way to the airport, please plan ahead and check your flight details in advance using our app or website. Our airport teams are here to support you at all times,” the airline said in a post on X.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) reported delays on the Yellow Line, particularly between Vishwavidyalaya and Central Secretariat stations, during peak office hours.
“Service Update. Delay in train services between Vishwavidyalaya and Central Secretariat stations. Normal service on all other lines,” DMRC posted on X.
Widespread Weather Warnings Across States
The IMD has also forecast heavy rainfall across multiple states till September 1. A red alert was issued for several districts in Haryana, Punjab and Uttarakhand, while orange alerts remain in effect for Kerala, Goa, Gujarat, Assam, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
